OAKLAND (KCBS RADIO) – The A's last season is drawing to a close, with the last homestand starting Friday night.
Fans are grieving in different ways.
Bryan Johansen says this entire season has felt like the death of a beloved family member.
“Every game you're going to the same funeral over and over and over again,” Johansen explained to KCBS Radio. “And so this final home stand really represents like the last viewing, right?”
He is coping by hawking unofficial, but very collectible, A's merchandise for his Last Dive Bar brand – a company he co-founded celebrating Oakland sports – and organizing a wake after the final game next Thursday at Line 51 Brewery.
“You can't replace 57 you know, seasons, 56 years of A's baseball, you just can't do that and the history that comes with that. “
The Last Dive Bar's social feeds have also become an online repository for people's happy memories about the As, and their rage about the move to Sacramento, then Vegas.
“People are coming out of the woodwork and it's like, it's like we're a pillow to cry on,” Johansen stated. “You're hearing like people's heartfelt stories every day and it's, it's gutting, you know, it, it, it adds an extra layer on top of everything else personally I have to deal with as a fan.”
For many A's super-fans, their grief hasn't moved past the anger stage.
"Personally it's crushing, something that I've shed tears over and punched walls over. I mean, I can't even articulate how mad it makes me."
That anger has a target: John Fisher and the A's management.
Johansen said the team has not given the team a proper send-off this season.
For example, not opening up the extra seating on Mt. Davis for the final game at the Coliseum next Thursday, which is sold-out.